Disney’s live action panel today at D23 started off with Alan Horn being heckled by disappointed Star Wars fans and pretty much turned into a clipfest afterwards. Only a surprise appearance by Maleficent star Angelina Jolie at the Anaheim event raised the temperature anywhere near Friday’s news filled Animation panel. The newest jewel in Disney’s crown, Star Wars was dealt with by the studio boss with a list of old announcements of approximate release dates, JJ Abrams being on board and spinoff films. “I really wish I could tell you more. It will come soon,” Horn told the crowd as a big “awww” and boos emanated from around the convention center from fans expecting a bone to be thrown their way today.

That was in sharp contrast to Jolie’s sudden walk-on later in the two-hour panel. Then it was cheers not jeers. “Since I was a little girl, I was drawn to her. But I was also terrified by her, but she had this elegance and grace,” said Jolie about playing in the upcoming backstory to the Sleeping Beauty character. “When I heard Disney was making the film, my brother encouraged me to take the role.” Jolie’s appearance in front of the audience of 7,500, came after Walt Disney live action production head Sean Bailey spoke about casting her for Maleficent. “You can pencil out a list of all the amazing actresses in the world and for us this list only had one name for the role, Angelina Jolie,” exclaimed Bailey over as sketches from the film played on the big screen. After Jolie’s brief turn on stage, Bailey showed the audience exclusive footage from Maleficent. In the clip, Jolie’s British-accented wicked Queen appeared amidst CGI fairies and green steam rising to curse the baby Sleeping Beauty. “Without a doubt, Maleficent will be a powerful movie experience when it comes to theaters next summer,” Bailey told the crowd. Maleficent is set to be release on July 2, 2014.

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Iron Man 3 made over a billion dollars worldwide. Cap 2 and Thor 2 will also do...

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Pretty much.

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In the theaters when the movies come out. The footage and clips were exclusive to D23 besides...

Related: Comic-Con: Marvel Announces ‘Avengers 2’ Villain & Title: ‘Age Of Ultron’
Though there were no Avengers: Age of Ultron revelations Saturday from Marvel but fans did get a very small taste of the sequel. A short sizzle reel was played with shots like Iron Man’s helmet, Captain America’s shield and the film’s title card. No images or scenes of cast members were shown but the D23 crowd loved it anyway.

There were more substantial clips revealed from other upcoming Marvel sequels and newcomers. Studio President Kevin Feige first followed Horn’s no-news Star Wars intro with a new clip from the upcoming Thor: The Dark World. Anthony Hopkins, who plays Thor’s father Odin, actor Tom Hiddleston, who plays the villain Loki in the Marvel universe, and Natalie Portman all came out on stage for a few words before Feige then introduced an exclusive clip of Portman’s Jane Foster character’s first day in the Asgard. Marvel also showed a two-minute clip from Captain America: The Winter Soldierand a trailer from the sequel. Star Chris Evans made an appearance along Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes from the first Captain America and now the aforementioned Winter Soldier) and new addition Anthony Mackie, who plays the Falcon in the pic. Packing it on, the studio also showed the trailer for Guardians of The Galaxy, which was played last month at Comic-Con. Though featuring some of Marvel’s more little characters, the studio chief expressed great optimism about the film’s reception to the D23 crowd. “We have the same feeling we did in 2006 and 2007 when we were making a movie called Iron Man,” said Feige of GOTG.

After showing a trailer for the upcoming Bears, Horn turned the stage over to Bailey once the Marvel presentation was done. Adding to the clipload, the production President then introduced a first look fromMuppets Most Wanted.Afterwards, Ty Burrell, who plays bumbling INTERPOL agent Jean Pierre Napoleon in the sequel, came on stage in a tiny car from the film to applause as Bailey mentioned that the film is still in production. Unlike D23 2011, no live Muppets appeared on stage. Instead, they showed footage of Miss Piggy, Kermit and Tina Fey addressing the D23 crowd from Pinewood Studios. Cinderella director Kenneth Branagh also showed up via video to talk about his film and show some art from the pic.

Following Jolie’s appearance, Tomorrowland co-writers Damon Lindeloff and Brad Bird appeared on the panel to indulge in some Disney self-referencing. “So we have nothing to show you. We didn’t bring George Clooney, but we brought you this dusty old box,” Lindeloff said as he noted the film has just started production. The duo rifled through a file box onstage from the Disney archive that they said served as the inspirations for the duo in the futuristic film. Afterwards, Bird, who is also directing Tomorrowland, and Lindeloff showed a supposedly vintage, never-before-seen color animated reel produced by Disney on the future of society, from Egyptian times through modern day cities.

The panel ended with another exclusive look for the fans. This time it was Saving Mr. Banks with Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers. The clip showed Hank’s Disney placating an anxious Travers by promising, “the last thing I will do is tarnish a story I cherish.” After the preview and another clip of Travers visiting Disneyland, cast members Jason Schwartzman and BJ Novak, who play composers the Sherman brothers in the pic about the making of 1964 film, came out on stage. They were joined later by Richard Sherman himself for a rendition of “Let’s Go Fly A Kite” with Mary Poppins-era dancers.

41 Comments

Babyjesus • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

They showed the same marvel footage at comic con. No new casting or movie announcements. No Star Wars news after d23 publicly promoted it for weeks (which got Alan horn some boos). Whole thing was so disorganized it made comic con look like a well oiled machine.

Petar • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Disney are liers. ZERO Star Wars and Avengers 2 news is a JOKE! People want news about these 2 franchises not next disney flop movies ala john carter or long ranger. They use highly anticipated STAR WARS news around title, cats, story, script, release date etc. to promote d23 expo. I am sure they no from the begining that. The question is why they lie us?

Laura • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Bravo! I couldn’t have said it better. Very disapointing.

burrrbank • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

“Disapointing’ clearly indicates you couldn’t have said it better.

Bo Knows • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Good to see Disney live action keeping up the crap fest by failing to deliver on the promises they made to the fans. This will hurt attendance at D23 in the future. Disney should at least be decent enough to refund some of the ticket money from yesterday to the burned fans.

I already see Tomorrowland becoming the next John Carter/Lone Ranger. Does anyone really want to see an adult George Clooney get his freak on with a pre-pubescent robot girl? It is the creepiest thing I have heard in a long time and it s coming from Disney! I am a big fan of Brad Bird and George Clooney, but this one is already going down.

I agree • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

So many John Carter/Lone Ranger disney movies in 2014. Too many. Better move Star Wars or Avengers in 2014 to save face Disney.

Marvel Historian • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

New footage was shown for Thor 2 and Captain America 2. No guarantees were ever made on Star Wars announcements.

just saying • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

where can us normal people see these clips?

Marvel Historian • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

In the theaters when the movies come out. The footage and clips were exclusive to D23 besides the stuff that was already shown at Comic-Con.

Art • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

To put it plainly, just as bestsellers pay for more literate novels in book publishing, so do blockbusters make the smaller, independent films possible. 20th Century Fox begat Fox Searchlight, not the opposite, New Line led to Fine Line, Sony Pictures begat Sony Pictures Classics and then Disney long ago purchased Miramax. Prestige pictures are made easier to green light by mainstream films, and if the financial wizardry of people like Daniel Loeb leads to a more profitable industry, the end result will be more, not less in the way of small movies that so many – including this writer – enjoy. It will also mean more jobs in an entertainment field that serves as such a powerful lure to so many.

Christophe • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Yet, the highest ambition for man lies in uniting opposites. In the Film industry that means producing Art for the masses, intelligent spectacle or englightening entertainment, joining in the process the high and the low, the pure and the gross, the spiritual and the material, heaven and earth.

Like the druids of old time, we must set the Holly Wood to its rightful use and raise humanity out of its ashes, and like Prince Charming, we must gently kiss the soul and wake her from her thousand years slumber.

just saying • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

I never understood the idea that Hollywood has to cater to their audience. If all this town made were small budget, art-house films, the general public would have no option but to watch them. Get rid of the execs who are only interested in finding the next big thing that will please the masses. Hollywood should dictate what people see in theaters not the general public.

Christophe • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

not sure about this but I think you’re being sarcastic… the general public would most likely desert movie theaters if Hollywood did what you advised, I’m not a big fan of obscure art-house films either, but I would really appreciate if we could stop equating dumbing down with entertaining, there’s nothing pleasing in being taken for morons.

doperganger • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

I’m so excited.. I wish I could see the preview. I love the idea of Angie as Maleficent. Perfect. And from the early reaction it seems that she has kicked ass in this. I hate the wait. I really want this film NOW. Is this the first Live Action that focuses on the Female character.. hmmm

Mike • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

No this isn’t the first live action film to focus on a female character!!!!

doperganger • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

I think I was talking about as a villain.

Now is that better!!!

burrrbank • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

FAILeficent

Jeff • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

What’s with the Darth Vader footage, since he’s one character that doesn’t figure in Ep. 7? Unless he does. Abrams managed to squeeze Leonard Nimoy’s Spock into a new “Star Trek” timeline, so you have to keep an eye on that guy.

James • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Darth Vader is star wars. As Yoda. But fan favoritte to be back is darth maul! I hope he or new cool character like darth maul from dark side move to good guys. I am sick all cool characters like Darth Vader and darth maul to be bad guys.

Darth Disney • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Vader can easily return in the form of a clone of his previous self. The clone won’t have any of the physical flaws that Annakin had it will be a perfect superior version of Vader with enhanced powers and new technology. They more or less have to do this, without Vader it’s not really a Star Wars movie.

bitter trekkie • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Disney didn’t pay four billion-with-a-b dollars to ignore the most bankable properties in the Star Wars lexicon. Luke, Leia, Han and most of all, DARTH will be back. And not old and wrinkly, either. Lucas may have frakked up Vader’s backstory, but hey I’ll give Disney a second chance to undo the damage.

Duke • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

They flat out said they weren’t going to be revealing any Star Wars news at D23.

If you ignored that and thought they would anyways, you’re an idiot.

Marvel Historian • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Pretty much.

Petar • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Star wars is greatest franchise of all time and will be highest grossing movie in 2015 and may be even beat avatar. At least until avatar 2 premiere. And no news is SHAME. Disney use star wars to promote next disney big time flops like long ranger. WE WANT STAR WARS! GET IT!

@Duke

All world expect news about Star Wars. Star Wars 7 in not just movie its EVENT bigger even than Avatar 2. After crap prequels 1,2 3 everybody want great movie or franchaise will be dead. They start filming in february 2014 so i guess they have at least script, storylines etc. May be even some of the cast and TITLE. At least give us release date(all star wars were in May) but they don’t give us nothing.

lsb • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Your not dealing with George Lucas anymore your dealing with Disney, they are much more than Lucasfilm and Star Wars. Lucasfilm is just one part of Disney, and Star Wars is just one little corner of that. In other words right now its Marvel & Pixar.

n • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

That’s a bit short sighted. If you don’t believe the next Stat Wars is a billion dollar Lucasfilm lead project that is being distributed by Disney then you don’t know how disney does business. They have zero creative input over Marvel and Pixar films. Disney makes boatloads on “synergizing” those properties (toys, theme parks,

CJS • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

I’m not an Angie Jo fan, but she looked so beautiful in person. And even with her simple top and rolled up jeans, she was elegant.

I’m not a super hero fan, so I thought there was too much Marvel. The Saving Mr. Banks footage looked fantastic. And we all got cardboard Maleficent hair horns to wear when we left the Arena.

GregSamsa • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

I came away from D23 today super excited for Tomorrowland this is going to be a fantastic project if they realize what they are going for. Very original and not a pointless remake like Cinderella and Malificent.

doperganger • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Maleficent isn’t a remake. It is from the point of view of Maleficent. Since that story has not been told hardly a Remake. Cinderella has been retold many times. Maleficent’s story not at all.

Looks like a lot of people weren’t too happy with this D23 thing. I am still curious to see if Star Wars and Avengers 2 will be released in May so closely together.

ElGiorcho • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

@Art, you say that or it could just mean more blockbusters. I keep hearing this argument but what we’ve seen are the lower budget fair from the majors pretty much disappear in favor of these behemoth tentpoles. I doubt that tide will be changing anytime soon

Wow • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

So Disney has JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon with two best sci fi franchise movies Star Wars 7 and Avengers 2 and instead joint appearance of Abrams&Whedon wich will turns sci fi community crazy and all geeks all over the world they deside to go with some Malificent movie which nobody care and will bomp harder than John Carter and Long ranger. Yep Dumb and Dumber should be Disney movie.

@ lsb

Star wars 7 will be highest grossing DISNEY movie so they are insane.

Vato Loco • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

Where’s Dick Cook when you need him!! Best Show man in Hollywood.

Bill • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

+1.

Dick Cooks knows how to put on a show so he doesn’t get booed on stage. Whoever put together Alan Horn’s presentation really did him a disservice.

Starstruck • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

The writer is correct – only Angelina Jolie and Maleficent saved that presentation. Kudos to the authors of this article for reporting the boos and disappointment from the Star Wars fans – most columns I’ve read about the event have conveniently (for Disney) left that out. I just wish the article had mentioned the truth about the underwhelming Muppets clipfest. The Piggy/Kermit/Tina skit was off-putting (who wrote that mess?), and the clips shown were bizarre rather than funny. I was there and it was excruciating. Looks like that film’s shaping up to be another John Carter/Lone Ranger – although hopefully the budget for the Muppet film is miniscule by comparison, so that Disney won’t take yet another bath at the box office. It’s had a tough year so far.

Thankfully, the appearance of Richard Sherman and the clips from “Saving Mr. Banks” helped take the taste of dead frog out of viewers’ mouths. The clips from that film were surprisingly enjoyable, and the concert afterward was delightful. Richard and Alan Menken put on a great, poignant show. Can’t wait to see that film.

GregSamsa • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

I don’t know what clip you saw but the Muppets song was funny as hell especially the dancing, Kermit’s doppelgangers Russian accent is hilarious. The London setting and heist theme seem inspired by The Great Muppet Caper def my fav of the muppet movies.

Starstruck • on Aug 10, 2013 12:31 pm

I saw the whole presentation. I suppose if you’re a Muppet fanatic (as your post suggests), the laughs were there, but for anyone else they weren’t. Kermit talks with a Russian accent, oooh funny. The pig acted like a bitch, what a riot. Toss in Tina Fey and you’ve got a movie disaster of John Carter proportions. It looked like a bad TV movie at best. But whatever floats your boat.